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Sono opened his mouth. The water immediately filled it, collapsed into it as if he’d intentionally drawn it in. The density of the water took him by surprise. It was too overwhelming to halt, let alone get anything out, either words or water; it was like a plug in his throat. He couldn’t even join his lips; only maintain the pressure, sustaining the bottleneck. His stomach felt increasingly lighter, and so did his hands. They wouldn’t move. They weren’t there. He panicked. Bubbles blinded him. He blinked in vain. Only brief segments appeared. White tiles. Twinkling water. Teeth. Shadows. Eyes. Hope. Fingers. Converging darkness. A blue mole. Bubbles bursting. Sound. Fire. Her streaked palm. Lungs. The wish. Piercing. Hesitation. What if she wasn’t real?